The Knight Anole (Anolis equestris) in Florida

In this paper, we discuss the likely modes of introduction of the Knight Anole (Anolis equestris) into and around Florida, provide data on its current geographic distribution, and summarize life history data in both its native and introduced Florida range. Our field data consist of collections made from 1992 through 2008 and locality data taken from the literature and systematic collections throughout the United States. Anolis equestris was first introduced in Miami-Dade County in 1952. The subsequent spread of this species in Florida has been both natural and assisted by human translocations to 10 additional counties, including Brevard, Broward, Collier, Highlands, Lee, Martin, Monroe, Palm Beach, Polk, and St. Lucie. Because this species is nonindigenous and known to consume a wide variety of items, including small vertebrates, it should be removed when encountered in the wild. A comprehensive study detailing its effects on the environment is needed

The Knight Anole (Anolis equestris) in Florida

In this paper, we discuss the likely modes of introduction of the Knight Anole (Anolis equestris) into and around Florida, provide data on its current geographic distribution, and summarize life history data in both its native and introduced Florida range. Our field data consist of collections made from 1992 through 2008 and locality data taken from the literature and systematic collections throughout the United States. Anolis equestris was first introduced in Miami-Dade County in 1952. The subsequent spread of this species in Florida has been both natural and assisted by human translocations to 10 additional counties, including Brevard, Broward, Collier, Highlands, Lee, Martin, Monroe, Palm Beach, Polk, and St. Lucie. Because this species is nonindigenous and known to consume a wide variety of items, including small vertebrates, it should be removed when encountered in the wild. A comprehensive study detailing its effects on the environment is needed

Characterization of two Pseudomonas putida lipopeptide biosurfactants, putisolvin I and II, which inhibit biofilm formation and break down existing biofilms

Pseudomonas putida strain PCL1445 was isolated from roots of plants, grown on a site polluted with polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons. PCL1445 produces biosurfactant activity at the end of the exponential growth phase. High-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) analysis of supernatant extracts of PCL1445 showed two peaks with surface-tension reducing activity, tentatively assigned as biosurfactants putisolvin I and putisolvin II and was followed by structural analyses. A transposon mutant of PCL1445, strain PCL1436, which lacks the two surface-active peaks appeared to be mutated in an open reading frame (ORF) with amino acid homology to various lipopeptide synthetases. Structural analyses of the two biosurfactants of PCL1445 revealed that both are novel cyclic lipodepsipeptides with a hexanoic lipid chain connected to the N-terminus of a 12-amino-acid peptide moiety, in which the C-terminal carboxylic acid group forms an ester with the hydroxyl side-chain of Ser9. The difference between the two structures is located in the second amino acid from the C-terminus, being valine for putisolvin I, and leucine/isoleucine for putisolvin II. We show that these novel compounds lower the surface tension and influence the biofilm development on polyvinyl chloride (PVC). Biofilm formation of the bio-synthetic mutant PCL1436 was strongly increased containing more cells, which formed aggregates earlier as compared with wild-type PCL1445 biofilms. Using purified putisolvin I and II it was shown that biofilm formation of different Pseudomonas strains was inhibited and most interestingly, that both putisolvins are also able to break down existing Pseudomonas biofilms.Microbial Biotechnolog

Conceptualizing communities as natural entities: a philosophical argument with basic and applied implications

Recent work has suggested that conservation efforts such as restoration ecology and invasive species eradication are largely value-driven pursuits. Concurrently, changes to global climate are forcing ecologists to consider if and how collections of species will migrate, and whether or not we should be assisting such movements. Herein, we propose a philosophical framework which addresses these issues by utilizing ecological and evolutionary interrelationships to delineate individual ecological communities. Specifically, our Evolutionary Community Concept (ECC) recognizes unique collections of species that interact and have co-evolved in a given geographic area. We argue this concept has implications for a number of contemporary global conservation issues. Specifically, our framework allows us to establish a biological and science-driven context for making decisions regarding the restoration of systems and the removal of exotic species. The ECC also has implications for how we view shifts in species assemblages due to climate change and it advances our understanding of various ecological concepts, such as resilience